Page 14 of Savage Claim

Just as I dumped a few handfuls of chips onto a plate and sprinkled my toxic seasoning, my nape prickled with unease when two young male shifters entered the kitchen.

“What are you doing up, Tate?” Marcel, a guy with dark hair and eyes equally dark, prowled the perimeter of the kitchen.

I pointed to my plate. “Getting a snack. Obviously.”

Gray, the other wolf, circled the kitchen in the opposite direction. “Where’s your mate?”

“Sleeping.” I popped a chip into my mouth, chewing slowly. “Why?”

“He shouldn’t leave you all alone for the wolves to descend.”

Chapter

Six

The atmosphere in the kitchen thickened as the two male wolves inched closer. Goose bumps rose on my body, and my muscles tensed, but I remained glued to the spot.

If they sensed fear, they’d pounce.

Gray was the bigger of the two, but not by much. The alluring combination of bright-green irises and russet hair earned him tons of female attention, and he knew it. “Since Fane hasn’t officially claimed you, plenty of males here think they still have a chance.”

Marcel rubbed his hand over the stubble coating his square jaw. “Careful, Gray. The little she-wolf might think you’re threatening to steal her from the hybrid.”

“Maybe I am.” Gray tightened his path to bring him closer. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t jump at the chance.”

For shit’s sake. These two idiots were circling me like sharks.

“Not interested.” I passed Marcel on my way to the fridge. “You two aren’t the first to prowl around me in Fane’s absence.”

“If he’s not going to claim you, maybe someone else would like to.” Gray grabbed the fridge door after I pulled out a carton of lemonade, blocking me. “You wouldn’t consider anyone else?”

I ducked under his arm, grabbed a glass from the cabinet, and returned to my spot at the center island. “Nope.”

“Stop wasting your breath, Gray.” Marcel had finished his sweeps and stopped on the other side of the island. “Fane wouldn’t give her up without a fight. And I doubt you could take him.”

The swirling tattoo on my neck tingled briefly before the demon shifter crossed the threshold, his powerful presence choking the kitchen.

“You couldn’t take me.”

No one was as intimidating as Fane in sweatpants and no shirt. His multitude of jagged tattoos and scars were on full display, reminding the other two males of how dangerous he was. A faint glow pulsated in his eyes as a warning that his demon wolf paced just under the surface. And even though he didn’t need to fully transform to rip Gray and Marcel to pieces, he could shift within moments compared to a regular wolf.

The other males backed away to the edge of the room, some of the color draining from their cheeks. Fane settled behind me and wrapped his hands around my waist, a low growl vibrating his chest.

“Why are you bothering my mate?” Danger weaved through his gravelly voice.

“We were just talking,” I said, trying not to laugh at the shifters across the room as their knees quaked under the weight of Fane’s power.

Part of me believed this had nothing to do with his desire to kill me and everything to do with the hints of jealousy ricocheting through the bond.

“Talking about stealing my mate,” he said.

As I lifted a chip, Fane lowered his head and snagged it right out of my hand, his tongue purposely gliding over my fingers. A burst of heat erupted through my belly.

“We were only pointing out that some males might take advantage of the situation.” Marcel shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “You haven’t claimed her yet.”

Fane casually took a sip of my lemonade, licking his lips in a way that set my body on fire. That tongue could do so many wicked things.

A crooked grin hitched the edges of the demon shifter’s mouth as he caught the lust brewing in me. “She wouldn’t pick either of you over me.” He set the glass down and wrapped his arms around my waist, his hard form pressing into mine.

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